Know your anchor spot
- Know what the strongest wind strength and direction that you can expect in the period
- Never anchor on a lee shore
- Know what the swell is going to do
- Know what the seabed is and if your anchor is right for it
- Know what depth you will be looking at anchoring
- Anchoring out of other marine traffic lanes.
Know your tide
- You have to know when high tide is and what depth it will be at high tide. You will work your scope out on this.
- Know when low tide is and make sure that you have the extra swing room and not going to touch ground or other boats.
- Know how the current flow will change during the tide changes
- Know where on the tide you are when you arrive at your anchoring spot.
- Know what you depth sounder is calibrated to. From water line, under hull. If in drought, use as waterline and subtract draft of vessel.
Swing room
- Know what the other boats hull designs are going to do when wind/tide changes.
- Check what anchor tackle other boat are using, it will give you and idea of what scope they put out.
- Respect other boats that was there before you. Give them enough space.
- Make sure you are far enough from any rock or corals with the extra swing room at low tide.
- If possible. Do a circle around the parameter of your swing room
Swing room
- Know what the other boats hull designs are going to do when wind/tide changes.
- Check what anchor tackle other boat are using, it will give you and idea of what scope they put out.
- Respect other boats that was there before you. Give them enough space.
- Make sure you are far enough from any rock or corals with the extra swing room at low tide.
- If possible. Do a circle around the parameter of your swing room
Before arriving at your spot
- Prepare your boat and crew.
- Inform your crew of your preferred hand signals. Lot easier than trying to yell over the wind. Tell the crew if you shout it is not a personal thing but you need to know they can hear you. (if you have the budget, get handsfree radios)
- Inform your crew what depth your planning to anchor.
- Remember it is a team effort.
At your anchoring spot
- Check how other boat are lying to the wind/tide and what tackle they are using (Give you an idea of what scope they put out)
- Do a circle on where you expect swing room will be and keep eye on depth and for any obstacles, take note of any rocks that your chain can get hooked on.
- Make sure your in full control of your boat, sails down and motors on.
- Stop over the point where you want your anchor, lower anchor to the sea bed. Then slowly move back and lay your anchor line. Don’t dump your chain all in one spot.
- Once your desired scope is out neatly, cleat off your chain away from the windlass, feel for vibration if anchor is dragging.
- Once your anchor is set, gently pull on the anchor with the motors and make sure your anchor is set. Keep your crew feeling the chain for vibration. Cats, in general, will swing side ways when anchor is set.
- Put your bridal or snubber line out.
Pro tip is to have a loop of chain in the water between bridal and boat. Adds weight and reduce jerking of the boat. - Get either bearing of objects and or transit lines and stay on board for a period before leaving the boat. Check bearings and transit lines frequently.
- Put drift/anchor alarm on you Chart plotter.
- Make an exit plan while weather is good and everything is visible.
During your anchor time
- Check your anchor bearing and transit lines frequently.
- Check depth on low tide, and check for dragging on high tide.
- Check how strong the current is during the mid tides.
- In strong winds or strong tides, have an anchor watch system.
- Can be as easy as just checking every hour. Or as a fulltime watch.
Weighing anchor
- Use your motor to push the boat forward, new windlasses is not strong enough to pull you forward, be kind to your windlass. Try and pickup the chain strait down.
- Have someone in the bow to show direction and angle.
- If your anchor is stuck, you can take up as much chain as possible and then cleat off, and motor slowly forward.
- If you can not retrieve it, cut the rope at the bitter end and tie fender with rope to get diver out if you need to leave in a hurry.
- Remember if you are in rocky seabed useful to use a trip line on anchor.
